Boston Radio Host Suspended After Using Fake Asian Accent To Mock Tom Brady's Agent
The popular co-host of a Boston radio sports program has been suspended after using a fake Asian accent to impersonate the agent of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Station managers suspended Christian Fauria on Friday for five days after what he called a “horrible attempt at humor.” While pretending to speak as Don Yee, Brady’s athletic agent, Fauria had used an accent that many consider to be a racist stereotype of Asians. Yee was born in Sacramento, California.
Fauria, who co-hosts the daily program “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” that’s broadcast throughout Massachusetts on WEEI-FM, said in a statement that he has reached out to Yee to personally apologize for his racially “insensitive” impersonation.
He also posted an apology on Twitter to both Yee and his audience for the “regrettable” stunt. Fauria, who played tight end for the Patriots from 2002 to 2005, said he “fully” supports management’s decision to discipline him.
Earlier today I made a horrible attempt at humor. In a segment during the show, I impersonated agent Don Yee in an insensitive and regrettable way. I want to publicly apologize to Don and anyone in the audience who heard it.
— christian fauria (@christianfauria) February 10, 2018
I have also reached out to Don directly to personally apologize. I have been disciplined by WEEI management and I fully support their decision.
— christian fauria (@christianfauria) February 10, 2018
It was the second major bumble related to Brady on the sports radio station. Before the Super Bowl, Brady cut short his weekly appearance on the station’s “Kirk and Callahan” program to protest after a host on another program, Alex Reimer, called Brady’s 5-year-old daughter an “annoying little pissant.”
WEEI-FM’s managers issued a statement saying they did not “support or condone” Fauria’s behavior, adding: “We apologize to Mr. Yee and those offended by the segment.”
Earlier today during his show, Christian Fauria impersonated athlete agent, Don Yee in an insensitive and ill-conceived attempt at humor. We regret Christian’s commentary and we apologize to Mr. Yee and those offended by the segment.
— WEEI (@WEEI) February 10, 2018
We do not support or condone Christian’s comments, and we have suspended him for five days effective immediately.
— WEEI (@WEEI) February 10, 2018
The station has removed all audio of Fauria’s Yee impersonation from its website.
Also on HuffPost
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.